Iowa homeschool checklist for this year

Things to do, with their deadlines

• By September 1 (only on the routes that file Form A)

  File Form A with your resident school district. Families on CPI Option 2 without reporting, or on independent private instruction, do not file it.

  Source: Iowa Department of Education: Homeschooling (Private Instruction); Iowa Department of Education: Private Instruction Handbook, August 2026 (PDF)
• By May 31 (CPI routes that report or dual enroll)

  The annual evaluation is due.

  Source: Iowa Code chapter 299A, Private instruction (legislature, PDF)

The state's own form: Form A: CPI Report.

All year

• All year

  Teach the subjects Iowa names: reading and language arts, mathematics, science, social studies.

  Source: Iowa Department of Education: Homeschooling (Private Instruction)
• All year

  Keep count of the days. Competent private instruction means instruction provided on a daily basis for at least 148 days during a school year, met by attendance for at least 37 days each school quarter. The Department's handbook says this applies to all CPI students. Independent private instruction has no day count in the law.

  Source: Iowa Department of Education: Homeschooling (Private Instruction)
• All year

  The law lists no records to keep at home. Form A (where used) gives the child's name and age, the period of instruction, an outline of the course of study or texts, and the instructor's name and address. Independent private instruction must, on written request from the district superintendent or the Department, report the primary instructor, location, responsible authority and students.

  Source: Iowa Code chapter 299A, Private instruction (legislature, PDF)

Good habits (not in the law)

• Keep a copy of everything you send, and of any acknowledgement you get back, with the date.

• Start simple records on day one: the days you teach, the books you read and a few samples of work in each subject. They help if you move, return to school or apply to college.